If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

S'pore's stand on South China Sea dispute unchanged

04:45 AM Sep 11, 2012

SINGAPORE - Contrary to reports that have surfaced in the Philippines, Singapore has not changed its position on the various South China Sea disputes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said yesterday, adding that the Filipino media may be "very free with the facts".

The ministry was referring to reports in the Philippine Star and Manila Bulletin published on Sunday, which reported that Singapore supported the Philippines' position in the South China Sea dispute during Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on Saturday.

"We have seen the reports in question. You all know how free the Filipino media is; they can even be very free with the facts. There has been no change to Singapore's position," said an MFA spokesperson in response to media queries.

"When PM Lee met President Aquino on Sept 8, 2012, he reiterated Singapore's consistent position, namely that we do not take sides on the merits or otherwise of the various specific disputes in the South China Sea.

"PM Lee called on all claimants to exercise restraint and for disputes to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law."

The spokesperson added: "We had made this clear after the Sept 8 meeting. Unlike the Filipino media reports you refer to, we deal with facts, not fiction."

Parliament abolishes Parliamentary Pensions Act

SINGAPORE: Parliament on Monday passed a bill to abolish the Parliamentary Pensions Act.

The move came after a review of ministerial salaries which recommended that the pension scheme be scrapped for office holders and Members of Parliament (MPs).

This is in line with the principle of having a transparent wage system, where there are no hidden perks.

Under the Parliamentary Pensions Act, political office holders who have served at least eight years are eligible for a pension.

The pension amount is dependent on the length of service of the office holder. The maximum annual pension is about 11 per cent of an office holder's salary prior to retirement.

The idea behind it was to recognise the officer holders' role in policymaking, and their experience.

The change will bring the remuneration of office holders and MPs in line with the Central Provident Fund savings scheme.

Office holders appointed on and after 21 May 2011, when the new government took office, will not receive any pension.

Those appointed before 21 May will have their pensions frozen and be eligible only for pensions accrued up to 20 May 2011.

The change affects all office holders, from parliamentary secretaries all the way to the prime minister.

MPs elected after 1 January 1995 are already no longer eligible for pension.

MPs who supported the bill said that being a politician cannot be seen as a job or a career promotion.

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher de Souza said: "I believe most, if not all, of us present at today's debate would agree with me that political office is both a calling (and a passion).

"Those who want to serve must have that sense of duty and, beyond that, passion to the nation, as well as a desire to contribute to the public good of Singapore.

"For MPs, we are in this because we believe in the ethos of sacrifice that public service entails, to serve our residents, meeting with residents, listening to them, caring for them, offering encouragement in times of difficulty and mapping out real ways of progress for them and their children -- that is fulfilling, that is politics."

Separately, Parliament also passed the Civil List Pension Amendment Bill, which paves the way for the pension scheme to be scrapped for former presidents.

The Constitution has provided for a pension to be given to a former president, at a sum to be decided by Parliament.

However, this provision has never been exercised and no president has ever received a state pension.

Tighter rules lead to far fewer PRs admitted from 2010

Tighter rules lead to average of 28,500 approvals a year, half of figure in 2004-08

Published on Sep 11, 2012

From Jan 1 to July 31 this year, 30 per cent of foreigners applying for an Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass to work here were rejected. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

By Phua Mei Pin & Toh Yong Chuan

Figures released by the Government on Monday showed how its stricter policy on foreigners has led to more work pass applications being rejected, and fewer new citizens and permanent residents being taken in each year.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean disclosed that since immigration policies were tightened in late 2009, the number of new permanent residents (PRs) has dropped from an average of 58,000 per year from 2004 to 2008, to 28,500 per year from 2010.
From Jan 1 to July 31 this year, 30 per cent of foreigners applying for an Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass to work here were rejected.

This was an increase from the 26 per cent rejection rate for the whole of last year, said Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin in Parliament, although he did not give the absolute number of applications in both years.

$43m off-road cycling paths to be built in 7 estates

Parliament

Other safety initiatives include talks, exhibition, handbook on etiquette

Published on Sep 11, 2012

Cyclists and pedestrians crossing a road junction in Tampines. Off-road cycling paths to be built under the new project will allow residents to commute within their neighbourhoods. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

By Maria Almenoar, Transport Correspondent

The number of accidents involving cyclists injured or killed has gone down by 17 per cent between 2008 and last year.

Still, every fatality is one too many, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said as he outlined measures to keep cyclists safe in response to six MPs' questions.

These include a $43 million project to build dedicated off-road paths for cyclists in seven neighbourhoods. These paths are primarily for cycling within towns, to the nearest MRT station or market, for example.

Member of Parliament (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) Janil Puthucheary asked if the Government would consider putting in more resources and funds into the safety of those who cycle on the roads.

Prince William & Kate Middleton arrive in Singapore

The royal couple boards a green Jaguar car upon arrival at the Changi Airport VIP complex at about 2.45 pm on 11 September 2012. -- PHOTO: Seah Kwang Peng

By Melissa Pang

LATEST 4.04PM - The crowd goes crazy and cheers as the royal couple arrives at Raffles Hotel.

Timeline

3.49PM

Prince William and wife Catherine have left the Botanic Gardens for their hotel. The duchess was dressed in a beautiful pale pink coat dress with orchid prints. She emerged with a bouquet of the orchids that were named after the royal couple.

3.29PM

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived at the Singapore Botanic Gardens - the first stop of their three-day visit here. The royal couple were ushered to the National Orchid Garden where an orchid will be named after them.

3.12PM

Fans have begun to gather outside the Raffles Hotel, awaiting the arrival of William and Kate. Many did not know that the royal couple were going to arrive and were simply visiting the historic hotel.

3.03PM

It's a really hot day. NParks and British High Commission officers are passing reporters and cameramen safari hats and bottled water.

2.45PM

The royal couple boards a green Jaguar car upon arrival at the changi airport VIP complex at about 2:45pm. They are received by Dr Maliki Osman and his wife.

9.30AM

Fans of Will and Kate begin gathering at the Botanic Gardens, which is the first stop on the royal couple's tour in Singapore.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived at the Singapore Botanic Gardens - the first stop of their three-day visit here.

They were dropped off at the burkhill hall entrance.

The Duchess is dressed in a pale pink coat dress with orchid prints on the front.

The royal couple were ushered to the national orchid garden where an orchid will be named after them.

16,800 lanterns to light up Chinatown for Mid-Autumn Festival

Four streets to be lit up in record display of lanterns at festival starting on Sunday

Published on Sep 12, 2012

Lanterns lighting up Eu Tong Sen Street last night during a preview. This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinatown is expected to attract 1.2 million people. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

By Jessica Lim

Chinatown is about to see its brightest-ever celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, with a record display of street lanterns.

Four streets - New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, Smith Street and South Bridge Road - will be lit by 16,800 lanterns over 2km of road.

Also being planned are giant lantern structures shaped like fruits - grapes and apples, for example. The display will be entered in the Singapore Book of Records for the "largest display of street lanterns".

Announcing the details of this year's Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, organiser Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens Consultative Committee said the event is expected to attract about 1.2 million people, 15 per cent more than last year's crowd.

A visit from the Royals

Royal couple kicks off Diamond Jubilee tour, reaffirms close ties between UK and Singapore

TODAY
04:45 AM Sep 12, 2012

SINGAPORE - With an orchid named after them and dinner at the Istana with President Tony Tan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine received a warm welcome in Singapore yesterday as they kicked off their South-east Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.

Upon their arrival at Changi Airport in the afternoon, the royal couple were met by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development Maliki Osman and his wife.

Their first stop was the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where an orchid was named after them: The Vanda William Catherine. During the visit, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge also viewed the Dendrobium Queen Elizabeth II and the Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana.

They were then taken to Raffles Hotel, where more than 100 people greeted the couple and took pictures as they emerged from their car.

At the welcome ceremony at the Istana in the evening, the Prince and the Duchess met President Tan and PM Lee and their wives.

In a speech at the dinner, President Tan affirmed the close ties between Singapore and the United Kingdom: "The relationship between our two countries has remained strong and tightly-knit over the years, underpinned by deep historical ties, a shared language and substantial mutual interests.

"Our bilateral cooperation has grown steadily and now spans a broad range of fields."

Prince William, who hailed Paralympics medallist Laurentia Tan and other Singaporean athletes at the recent London Games in his speech, said: "We are delighted that the relationship between the UK and Singapore is now as close as it has ever been ... Catherine and I greatly look forward to learning much more, and seeing much more, during our stay here."

The couple leave for Malaysia tomorrow.

Britain's Prince William attends a welcome ceremony at the Istana while on an official visit to Singapore on 11 Sep 2012. He is accompanied here by President Tony Tan. Photo by OOI BOON KEONG

Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Botanic Gardens. It is the first stop on their tour of Singapore. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Royal couple starts day with visit to Gardens By The Bay

Straits Times
Published on Sep 12, 201219

The duke and duchess separated to shake hands with the crowd. A girl in the crowd asked prince William what superpower he would pick if he could have one, and he said invisibility. When the girl posed the same question to Kate, she said "I'd pick invisibility too so that William can't sneak up on me." -- ST PHOTO: JENNANI DURAI

By Jennani Durai

On day two of the royal couple's visit to Singapore, Prince William and his wife Catherine started their morning with a visit to the Gardens By The Bay, where they toured the Supertree Grove.

A crowd gathered at the gardens, including around 50 schoolchildren from the Tanglin Trust school here who were decked out with Union Jack flags.

Next, they will head to the Rolls Royce Seletar campus, and after that they will head to Queenstown for a slice of HDB life.
The royal couple will watch some cultural performances at Strathmore Green HDB estate, and visit Rainbow Centre, a school for kids with autism and multiple disabilities.

It's going to get cosy at the Sports Hub

SINGAPORE: Working, playing and training together could be the future for a number of National Sports Associations (NSAs) when the S$1.33-billion Sports Hub officially opens its doors in April 2014.

As the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) mulls over options to house the different sports at its Kallang facilities, which include the 55,000-capacity National Stadium, a 3,000-seater multi-purpose indoor aquatic centre, the Singapore Sports Institute, a multi-purpose arena and a water sports centre, it is also thinking of making these NSAs share various services.

While details of the relocation plans have not been finalised, TODAY understands that the SSC's tentative proposal includes an open concept office for the NSAs, who could also share a secretariat, office equipment and supplies, to encourage interaction and the sharing of best practices.

The proposal for the NSAs will also complement the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the SSC's strategy - which is part of the Sports Facilities Masterplan - to transform the Kallang area into a sports city with major sporting, lifestyle and entertainment events.

The sports city concept will also incorporate a tennis academyand new centre court. TODAY also learnt that the Singapore Sports School could be moving from its Woodlands campus to Kallang in future.

Said Bob Gambardella, SSC chief of Sports Development Group, in response to TODAY's queries: "The SSC has allocated space in the Sports Hub for the NSAs. We have engaged the NSAs via focus group sessions to gather their thoughts on the proposed move and will continue to work closely with them to finalise relocation plans for those who are keen to move to the Sports Hub.

"We are looking at housing NSAs which have the best fit in relation to the types of training and competition facilities. We are also looking at the synergies that can be tapped by co-locating the identified NSAs."

While some NSAs welcomed cost-cutting ideas such as the shared services, others were concerned about issues such as rental cost and the logistics of working in an open plan office.

Said Bobby Lee, chief executive officer of the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA): "The idea is good from the angle of economies of scale, greater interaction amongst the various NSAs and learning best practices from peers. However, there are issues of privacy and security that need to be addressed.

"From the SBA's angle, we raised a few points, such as the proximity of our office to the training hall, instead of the main open office, our requirement of a store room for our equipment and dormitories for the players.

"Rental rates are also a concern and we hope that the current Annual National Sports Association Grant Exercise funding will increase to cover any increase in the facilities rental and operational costs."

Rental and revenue would be a factor for the Singapore Canoe Federation, as its president Chua Kee Huat said on Tuesday: "We are a small NSA and are very conscious about the kind of expenses we incur. Our NSA is also more unique in that we depend on offering programmes and courses to the public and affiliates to generate income, and we are not sure if we will be able to do that at the Sports Hub (water sports centre). It's still unclear so we will have to wait."

Others like Netball Singapore were more concerned about the feasibility of working together in an open space with other sports.

"Our feedback to the SSC is that we would prefer a small office partition for privacy rather than a big office space," said Cyrus Medora, its executive director. "It (shared services) would definitely help the smaller NSAs, but maybe not for the bigger ones that already have a secretariat."

Big plans shaping up for Sports Hub opening

SINGAPORE - When the Singapore Sports Hub opens in April 2014, one of the most anticipated events will be the inauguration of the S$1.33 billion facility.

A slew of events, including a concert by rock band U2, have previously been mentioned as possibilities for opening the venue.

However, TODAY has learnt it is "most likely" that a football match will be its first sports event.

After launching the National Stadium Club - the first corporate hospitality programme of its kind in South-east Asia - yesterday, World Sport Group (WSG) Senior Vice-President (Stadiums and Arenas) Adrian Staiti told TODAY that given its status as the region's No 1 sport, a football match at the 55,000-seater National Stadium would be the logical choice as the Sports Hub's maiden sports offering.

"The primary focus and key sporting piece of the stadium is football. So, will the opening sports event be a football match? Most likely," said the 37-year-old American.

The WSG, part of Singapore SportsHub which will build and operate the Sports Hub on a 25-year lease from the Government in the world's largest Public-Private Partnership, will manage the National Stadium Club.

Also being considered are a few other events at the Sports Hub before its official opening to get the facility fully operational.

The official opening date of the Sports Hub has not been decided.

One of the most high-profile matches of the Singapore national side in recent years was in July 2008 against Brazil's Olympic team which featured former AC Milan and Barcelona star Ronaldinho.

Staiti said the Lions may be one of the teams for this proposed match, but remained coy if a top international side could also be involved.

The American also indicated that a concert could be part of the opening festivities. "There could be another concert that opens the stadium, it could also be in conjunction with each other, a full-day festivity."

Currently being built on a 35-ha site in Kallang, the Sports Hub will house, among others, the Singapore Sports Council and Singapore Sports Institute.

Featuring 62 executive suites costing S$72,000 to S$272,000, the membership offers a range of VIP services, including a members-only car park, concierge service and a panoramic view of the arena.

Sports Hub launches exclusive membership club

Updated 03:26 PM Sep 12, 2012

SINGAPORE -- In a first of its kind in South-east Asia, the Singapore Sports Hub has launched its executive suites as part of the National Stadium Club.

Up to 62 executive suites, including a VVIP suite, will be available at the 55,000-seater National Stadium, complete with panoramic views of the arena and luxurious interiors, with members enjoying a range of services such as in-suite catering, members-only car park area, concierge services and priority to events all year round.

Run by World Sport Group (WSG), which manages the sales and marketing of the membership programme, the suites range from eight to 30 seaters, and are priced between S$72,000 to S$272,000.

"This is a world-class membership programme designed to give members the ultimate sporting and hospitality experience," said Adrian Staiti, WSG's senior vice-president (stadiums and arenas).

The National Stadium will be the centrepiece of the S$1.33 billion Sports Hub, which is scheduled to be ready by April 2014.

No more banding of secondary schools

Education Ministry to also look into concerns about homework, tuition, test standards

by Ng Jing Yng
04:45 AM Sep 13, 2012

SINGAPORE - Sweeping changes to the Republic's education system, which will have far-reaching effects on mainstream schools here, were laid out by Education Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday.

The banding of secondary schools purely by academic achievements will be abolished starting this year, while the Ministry of Education (MOE) has pledged to raise the quality of teachers and reach out to parents to be supportive partners to "deliver the best for our children".

Implemented in 2004, banding works by grouping schools according to their average O-level scores into nine broad bands, which some felt would perpetuate a single-minded pursuit of academic excellence.

"The fact is there is no single yardstick to measure how 'good' our schools are," Mr Heng said to some 1,900 educators at the MOE Work Plan Seminar yesterday.

Schools were also relieved of "chasing awards" - as some among the public may see it - by deconstructing the hierarchy of awards that schools aim for each year.

The MOE has tackled issues over the past year at the two bookends of the education system - university places and pre-school - and Mr Heng yesterday set his sights on addressing the perennial feedback of an overly-stressful education system.

MORE HOMEWORK NOT ALWAYS BETTER

Schools have to better coordinate the amount of homework given to students, said Mr Heng.

A one-size-fits-all guideline by the MOE will not work as children learn at different speeds and schools have to communicate to parents on their homework policy.

"Schools should not be apologetic about giving homework," said Mr Heng.

"But it does not follow that more homework is always better." Homework ought to be on the idea of quality rather than quantity, he added.
MOE can play its part by not contributing to the need for tuition. "Our schools and our examinations must not be run on the basis that students will have tuition," said Mr Heng, adding that teachers should not tell their charges to seek answers from their tuition teachers.

He cautioned against excessive tuition, which undermines the spirit of perseverance as students "look for ready answers rather than struggle to understand".
Educators should also set realistic tests and examinations, said Mr Heng, who noted anecdotal feedback that schools have set a harder test to "wake up" their students who are underperforming. The MOE will be studying how assessments can be pitched appropriately and better guide schools in setting questions, he added.

Even while addressing these concerns, Mr Heng stressed that the education system must have "sufficient rigour and strength". "The key for us is not to reduce stress to zero, but to strike the right balance," he added.

PITCHING HOMEWORK TO SUIT STUDENTS

Educators and parents TODAY spoke to welcomed Mr Heng's message. "It touched the heartstrings when he urged all to reflect on the crux of the matter - what do we really want for our students," said Edgefield Primary School principal Willy Tan, who agreed that examination standards and homework must be set according to each child's abilities. "There could be external pressures from societal or parents, schools will then need to communicate more to parents on the idea behind initiatives," added Mr Tan.

Tampines Secondary School principal Balamurugan Krishnasamy noted the difficulty could come from balancing parents' expectations and implementing the measures effectively. To assure parents, he suggested an arrangement where the amount of homework is pitched according to students' learning profiles.

Parent Jennifer Chow is glad to know that measures will soon be taken to ensure more meaningful homework and assessment practices. She noted how her two primary school sons were given scores of worksheets just before the start of school holidays or spelling tests just days apart from each other. "In the end, we just end up rushing through everything, then what's the point?," she asked.

Prince William and Catherine will be given a taste of Housing Board life on their low-key visit to Queenstown's Strathmore Green. -- MY PHOTO: JAMIE KOH

By Melissa Pang

Prince William and his wife Catherine have arrived at Strathmore Green estate in Queenstown.

A lion dance troupe greeted the royal couple, who were earlier at the Rolls Royce factory in Seletar.

Its so nice to see Prince William playing ball w the kids. Man, looking at these pics, I can't imagine how scorching hot it must have been for this lovely couple! Was nice to see him without his tie and his collar unbuttoned too. Makes it all real.